After 20 years working in the industry, starting in the early days of the dotcom boom, followed by 6 years and literally 1000’s of hours of coaching tech folk, we’ve identified a set of people skills which are often lacking in the tech industry. This skills gap shows itself in the culture and behaviours that sometimes make tech a more difficult place to work than it needs to be.
We believe that if this skills gap was filled then tech would not only be a better place to work, it would also be far more productive.
So what are the people skills so central to making tech a better place to work?
We’ve identified two groups of people skills that have huge influence on the experience of working in tech:
1, Skills that impact my own thinking and behaviour
- Developing a strong awareness of my own feelings, behaviours and reactions
- Controlling and directing my focus
- Understanding and regulating my emotions
- Seeing myself as a work in progress
2, Skills that impact others
- Communicating to build connection
- Giving feedback that stimulates positive change
- Handling emotions in others with confidence and compassion
- Encouraging other to share their ideas and experiences
We know from the teams and leaders we’ve coached over the past 6 years that when these people skills are nourished, valued and promoted both people and organisations thrive.
